The Magic Mailbox
Over the past month, I have been so excited to go through the mail. Almost every day, nestled among the Christmas catalogs, there'd be a special envelope or two -- painted, calligraphed, covered with rubber stamps, all responses to the illustrated letter contest
I announced in November, inspired by the new book More Than Words : Illustrated Letters from the Smithsonian Archives of American Art. They arrived from all over the US, from the northern reaches of Canada, from Sweden, France, and Germany, each unique. Inside were wonderfully personal stories, jokes, experiments, all testaments to the terrific creativity of the people who'd sent them.
It was a wonderful month and I felt so lucky each day. I hope it inspires you to try your hand at sending me or somebody somewhere a letter describing your doings in words and pictures.
I have created an online gallery of the illustrated letters. Every page and some of the envelopes are there and I tried to make them large enough so that you can read every word. At the bottom of each gallery page is a link that will let you download a full-res image.
Visit the Illustrated Letters gallery here
The 'contest' aspect of the event was the hardest as I loved every letter. So Patti and I decided that the most obvious solution to the dilemma was a random drawing and the big winner was Mr. Frank Bettendorf. Congratulation, Frank, look for your book in the mail!
A record of my exploration into all aspects of drawing, illustrated journaling, creativity, and the inspiring aspects of art. By the author of "Everyday Matters," "The Creative License", and "An Illustrated Life" and other books.
Comments
These are enchanting! I, like everyone else who sees these and didn't participate, so wish I HAD participated! How about doing it again in February? (just to pick a random month.) Wonderful, wonderful idea and execution.
Posted by: Laura F. | January 4, 2006 08:26 AM
Some wonderful results to the contest. You'll have to have one again sometime when the mail system is back to normal in New Orleans so that I can participate.
Posted by: hannah | January 4, 2006 08:45 AM
Yeah! Frank! Congratulations! All the letters are gorgous and heartwarming, funny, sweet, everything good! Our family has often created very thematic birthdays for each other. In the past, we've asked guests/friends to make a "card" message for the birthday-person and then assembled these in a simple 3-ring binder. We had a party where each person made (decorated) a T-Shirt for the guest of honor. These are probably not the most original ideas for all you artists out there but Danny's recent Illustrated Letter excursion reminded me of how much fun it was to have everyone involved creatively instead of buying gifts or instating a "no-gifts" policy. It seems everyone connected to "the drawing thing" , Danny's blog, and the EDM Group are so amazing and outstandingly great people! What a rare-random-though-not assemblage of kindred spirits! (And I meet ALOT of new and different people everyday!) You are all AMAZING! Thank You! Patti
Posted by: patricia gregory | January 4, 2006 09:04 AM
Thanks so much for posting the gallery! GREAT format - so easy and fun to view and read. Happy New Year all.
Posted by: Michelle Cobb | January 4, 2006 10:19 AM
OH DANNY, HOW EXCITING! I GOT GOOSEBUMPS ALL OVER, SEEING THE DELICIOUS ARTWORK YOUR FRIENDS SENT. WHAT A TREASURE YOU HAVE HERE. THANKS FOR SHARING.
JAN CALDWELL
Posted by: Jan Caldwell | January 4, 2006 10:21 AM
WHAT GLORIOUS Mail!!! Such gifts to a well-deserving individual! YOU! Thank YOU for sharing these beauties and inspiration pieces with us!
Posted by: Lin | January 4, 2006 10:27 AM
Danny what a great idea. So glad I participated and it is really wonderful to see all the creative ideas people generated! Patti, I love love love your ideas for parties. My 50th is coming up and I intend to party in artistic style!
Posted by: Lindsay | January 4, 2006 10:35 AM
Wow - o - wow I loved viewing the gallery SO much, tis almost as good as getting all those beautiful letters in my own mailbox. Also I feel famous and glamorous being featured in such rich company lol!
Thanks so much for this fab project - you made my first proper day back at the desk after Christmas so very smiley!
E
Posted by: Elaine | January 4, 2006 11:12 AM
Danny,
I am savoring and enjoying every delicious page of the letters. So good of you to solicit them AND TO SHARE them!
And, if you don't already have them, here are two more books re: illustrated letters:
Illustrated Letters: Artists and Writers Correspond, 1998, Roselyne de Ayala; and the incomparable Charles M. Russell, Word Painter, Letters 1887-1926. Edited by Brian W. Dippie. 1993. I had the good fortune to see Russell's letters in the museum in Great Falls. My first contact with illustrated letters and I was totally enchanted.
Thank you for keeping us all connected.
Posted by: Mary Ann | January 4, 2006 11:41 AM
Danny,
What a compelling collection!
I can't wait to read them all in detail...thanks for sharing these with us and kudos to all of the folks who wrote them...just astounding and touching.
Posted by: Paul V | January 4, 2006 11:43 AM
I'm so glad you published them all - what fun to read over your shoulder and enjoy the variety of creative expression.
Posted by: Karen Winters | January 4, 2006 11:59 AM
This could become a regular feature. So good to connect with artists from all over the world-(by snail mail too). Also proves to me -inspiration comes in many forms. Thanks again for all you do
Posted by: Lu | January 4, 2006 12:20 PM
Danny, thanks for sharing all the letters, cards, lepporellos and other art(efacts) you received. I was so curious how other 'particpants' illustrated thoughts would look like.
... and good luck, I didn't win, because I ordered your latest book YESTERDAY. More on that in another letter to come :-)
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January 4, 2006 12:21 PM
hol-eeee-a-mazing-env-i-ous-me!
i could spend the day
just looking closer and closer
at these...
i can't imagine how you must
have felt actually getting them
out of the mailbox each day...
sigh
Posted by: gkgirl | January 4, 2006 01:28 PM
What a fantastic effort by one and all....that sounds too impersonal so: Alison, Becky, Caroline, Cheryl, Debbie Ann, Ms Phipps, Frank, Hashi, Heidi, Iris, Janice, Karen Ann, Karen W, Kurt, Lindsay, Lucia, Lucy, Lynn, Babs, Marie, Morgan, Niklas, Patty, Rhonda, Rita, Roberta, Stephamie, Thorsten & Veronique take a bow!!!!!
Also to the instigator, Danny a huge pat on the back to you.
I am SO kicking myself for not participating, ah well....and appropos a discussion on EDM about being an artist, all the contributors have created works of art, so you are all artists (embrace that notion). For those that are interested one of Australia's most renowned drawing awards was previously won by John Winch who submitted his French correspondence (hope this link works)
http://www.kedumba.org.au/show_works.asp?id=92&name=John%20Winch&profile=
Again, an absolutely stirling effort by all concerned.
Posted by: Detlef | January 4, 2006 04:17 PM
Thanks so much for sharing these, I love seeing the true handwriting & all the illustrations are fab! How fun!
Posted by: patty | January 4, 2006 05:42 PM
Danny & all the wonderful artists who participated -- these letters were great to look at and read! I don't at all blame you for decided to do a random drawing, since it would have been impossible to choose just one winner. I agree with Laura -- you ought to do this again sometime. You probably wouldn't even have to give a book away to get people to participate!
Linda M in TN
Posted by: Linda | January 4, 2006 06:01 PM
Danny, How blessed you are. The letters are wonderful. Just wanted to thank all the people who did them and was able to see their wonderful work. Have a great day.
your friend from pittsburgh,
Linda
Posted by: Linda | January 4, 2006 06:10 PM
What a fabulous idea!! I wish I had gotten all that fantastic mail. It has created a little spark in my mind to take the time to send a few actual arty letters instead of boring old e-mails all the time. Maybe I can make someone else happy...
Thanks for posting them - they're super!
Posted by: Nancy Grim | January 4, 2006 09:29 PM
Wow...those are great!@
Posted by: G-Man | January 4, 2006 11:19 PM
@ DETLEF: thanks for 'naming' it :-) and thank you for the link you posted. Beautiful envelopes. I also have link to share:
@ ALL of you: If you like to keep on sending postcards, you might be interested in this site, set up by a Portuguese even featured on the BBC and German public radio ...
http://www.postcrossing.com/
Thank you ALL for sharing your thoughts on this magic letter box ... maybe someone wants to set up a lettercrossing.com ;-)
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January 5, 2006 07:17 AM
all these letters are fab and made me wish i had taken part! id *definately* be willing to participate were you to announce a new competition. im not a confident scribbler, but this seems like a great non-threatening way to get started ::
Posted by: - h - | January 5, 2006 01:39 PM
It was wonderful seeing all the great entries! I was hoping that somehow I would be able to see them! Such a great idea! It's wonderful to be inspired by such a great man!
Posted by: Karenann Young | January 5, 2006 04:56 PM
Danny, thank you so much for the chance to particpate! I'm blown away by all the talent and I'm so glad to see what everyone else created. Great work everyone!
Posted by: Becky | January 5, 2006 09:08 PM
Danny, THANK YOU for taking so much time to scan, format and post all these wonderful letters. What a treat to read them, and feel the personality of the authors through their handwriting, paper selections, envelopes and drawings. I hope they all have blogs so we can see more!!! What a great idea.
Belinda
Posted by: Belinda Del Pesco | January 5, 2006 10:54 PM
Those were so much fun to read and admire! What a great idea to share with us in the online world! Thank you to everyone who submitted a letter and drawings, I really enjoyed them.
~Raquel
Posted by: Raquel | January 6, 2006 12:32 PM
Wonderful! Thank you for posting everyone's terrific work. It inspirers me! I consider myself an artist, yet I never take the time to create lately. Thanks for reminding me that I can.
Posted by: s'mee | January 7, 2006 12:40 PM
Danny,
Just was turned onto to your site......fantastic......I have been viewing all the responses to your letter art challenge.
Wonderful.......I am so amazed and enjoying everyone of them. Look forward to reading your book. Karen
Posted by: Karen | January 21, 2006 08:58 AM